Self-cleaning rake



Sept. 27, 1932. H L CRESS, JR 1,879,112

SELF CLEANING RAKE Filed Feb. 1o. 1931 Patent-ed Sept. 27, 1932 l UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE HURVE L. CRESS, JR., OF HYGIENE, COLORADO SELF-CLEANING BAKE Application tiled February 10, 1931. Serial No. 514,846.

The present invention relates to rake cleanlinks 16 which are attached at the forward ing devices and more particularly to an atend to the bar 14 and at the rear end secured tachment which may be mounted on any conto a rockablel bar 17. The links 16 may be ventional rake structure so as to clean the mounted in substantially V-shaped position tines of the rake. `and secured to the rockable link member 17 An object of this invention is to provide a and havingfthe forwardendsthereof secured self-cleaning rake wherein the cleaning porto the cleaning member 14. One end of the tion of the rake is normally held in a posilink or rockable member 17 is rockably mounttion where the normal use of the rake will not ed on a pintle 18'wl1CllS SeCllled te the rake be interfered with, the cleaning attachment StIuCture 11 rearwardly of the tines 12. 60

embodying means which may be Operated at A V-shaped brace 19 is secured to the cleanwill so as to clean all of the tines at one operalng member 14 and extends upwardly theretion, from. An elongated stop; and brace member I The above and Various other Objects and 2051s SCL11`F1 at 011 end t0 the I'OClabl-L m8111- advantages of this invention will in part be ber 17 and is secured to and extends forwardt described in and in part be understood from ly of and between the V-shaped brace 19 so the following detailed description of the presthat when the member 17 is rocked forwardly, ent preferred embodiment, the same being ilthe eXtended portion of the stop member 20 lustrated in the accompanying drawing, will engage the upper edge of the rake 11 so e Wheren: as to limit the downward swinging movei..

Figure 1 is a detail top plan view 0f a, dement of the rock link 17 and coactively limit vice constructed according to the preferred the movement f the Cleaning member 14. embodiment of this invention mounted on a An operating member 21'is pivoted at one conventional rake structure, and end to thelink 17 and extends longitudinally V Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the deof the handle 10 engagmg 1n guide eyes or i) vice, members '22 which are mounted on the handle n Referring to the drawing wherein like nu- 10. An operating handle 23 is mounted on merals of reference designate corresponding the upper end of the operating member` 21, parts throughout thel several views, the nuand an expansible spring 24 is disposed about meral l0 designates generally a rake handle the operating member 21 and constantly urges structure which is provided at one end with a the operating member 21 upwardly so as to rake 11 having a plurality of tines 12. The hold the cleaning member 14 in inoperative rake 11 is of conventional construction and position.

is preferably of cast construction, and a fer- In the operation of this device, the lever rule 13 is disposed about the lower end of the 23 may be pushed forwardly or downwardly, 35 rake handle and holds the upper end of the which movement will move the operating rake 11 on the handle 10. member 21 downwardly and coactively swing In order to clean the tines 12 of the rake the cleaning member 14 downwardly with the structure, I have provided an elongated bar bearing 18 as a fulcrum, toward the free end f 14 which extends longitudinally of the forof the tines 12 until the extended portion'of 90 ward end of the rake 11, this bar 14 being prothe stop 20 strikes the rake 11. This movevided with a plurality offforwardly extendment will force any leaves, grass or other maing teeth or tines which extend between theV terial off of the tines 12 and when the handle tines 12 and slidably engage each tine so that 23 is released, the spring 24 will urge the i when the bar 14 with the tines or teeth 15 is operating member 21 upwardly until the Q5 moved downwardly on the tines k12, any cleaning member strikes the crossbar -25 of leaves, grass or the like will be forced off of the rake 11. p Y the teeth 12. It will be obvious from the foregoing that In order to move the cleaning member 14 a relatively simple and'at the same time prac- J on the tines 12, I have provided a pair of tical rake cleaning structure has been devised 1" which can be readily attached to any conventional rake structure and which will not interfere with the normal use of the rake.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of thevfollowing claims.

I claim l. In combination with a rake structure including a handle and a rake head having a plurality of spaced tines, a cleaning member slidably engaging the tines of the rake head, an operating member, connecting means connecting said operating member with said cleaning member, a V-shaped bracing member secured to the cleaning member and upstanding therefrom, and an elongated stop member secured to said bracing member and engaging said rake head upon downward movement of said cleaning member whereby to limit the movement of said operating member in one direction.

2. In combination with a rake structure, a rake cleaning member, a rockable operating member, means connecting 'said rockable operating member to said cleaning member, guide means carried by the rake structure and engaging the operating member whereby to slidably mount said operating member on said rake structure, an operating handle secured to said operating member, resilient means disposed about said operating member and urging said operating member into 1noperative position, a V-sliaped bracing mem-A ber mounted on the cleaning member, and an elongated stop member extending forwardly through said V-shaped brace member and connected to said operating member whereby to limit the rocking movement of said operating member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

HURVE L. CRESS, JR. 

